LEE Cook has backed central defender Damion Stewart to land QPR's player of the year award this season.

Stewart, 28, has been in excellent form for Rangers all year, featuring in all but three of their matches and chipping in with three goals, including the Carling Cup winner at Aston Villa.

And Cook feels that the Jamaican stopper's experience is proving vital in the team's push for promotion.

"I think one of the old boys has really been the most outstanding player this year, and that is Damion Stewart," Cook told the Times.

"This is his third year [at QPR] and this is the best he has played by far - Damion is in great form. He's solid at the back for us and I think you can tell that by the amount of clean sheets that we are keeping."

Rangers' total of 12 shut-outs in the league have been an important factor this season and the winger points to Stewart, as well former Wigan defender Fitz Hall and £250,000 summer signing from Blackpool, Kaspars Gorkss, as key contributors to this statistic.

"At the back we've got Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss - who has come in and done well - and obviously you've got Fitz Hall," Cook added.

"The defence are playing really well, but I would say that it is Damion who has been outstanding so far."

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